Becoming a Titus 2 Woman

The purpose of my blog (at this time and as I understand this command from the Lord) is to be a Titus 2 older woman to younger women.  I know there may be men visiting this site, and I welcome them as well, but my primary audience and target is women.  I'm not quite "aged" yet (even though some days I feel like it!) but I think, in other ways, such as having all my children grown, I probably qualify.  The Scriptures also tell us to go and make disciples, and humbly recognizing how inadequate I am to do either I seek to obey, knowing that only He can accomplish it through me.  This leads, then, inevitably to my asking, "What exactly does it mean to be 'a Titus 2 woman'?"  And, what does it mean in our culture?

What does it mean to be

"A Titus 2 Woman"?

Initially, let's discuss the phrase "in our culture."  "Our culture" doesn't dictate what the Bible says or means, because the Bible is Truth, and therefore must dictate, but having said that, the cultural conditions may affect how an older Titus 2 woman teaches, for women will perhaps be taught differently (indicating the means and methods of teaching) in different times.  Additionally, the culture may affect the teaching, not the substance but the focus, because older women may be teaching against specific attacks to God's plan which appear in a different form in today's culture than in former times. It's vital to remind ourselves, at the same time, that God has already defeated the enemy, so there is "nothing new under the sun" in terms of his attacks, and satan has no new tricks, but in his last-ditch efforts only tempts to the "same old" sin, just wrapped up in a different package).

Turning once again to the foundational question, "What does it mean to be a Titus 2 woman," let's first take a look at the text.  I believe that the two verses just before God speaks to women are indispensible to understanding the rest of the passage:

Titus 2:1-5--"But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine; 2That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.  3The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."

First, God speaks through Paul to the aged men (aged is usually understood to refer to persons who are 60 years old and older) to speak the things which "become sound doctrine."  Next, he explains what that means, with these descriptive words and phrases: "be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience."

Continuing, he turns in verse 3 to address the women, and begins with the "aged women."  What is the first thing he says?  Do "likewise".  We must go back to study the previous words and phrases in order to understand what the aged women are to do, based on what he has already instructed in his words to the aged men. Each of the words in his instructions is rich in meaning and significance, and, unfortunately, in this overview I won't be able to plumb the depths of their meaning.

After going back, and as we go forward once more, we see summed up in one neat package tied with a bow, the key to being a Titus 2 woman, old or young: "in behavior as becometh holiness."
The rest of the text opens the package and takes out, one by one, each individual quality inside, or in another analogy, it fills in the color and detail where there was only an outline of a woman.  Speaking of which, outlining this text made its meaning jump out to me.  Repeating:
The aged women likewise:
I.  In Behavior (Life, actions, works, lifestyle, choices: must be of what kind of behavior?)
     A.  As becometh holiness
     B.  Not
          1.  Be false accusers
          2.  Be given to much wine
     C.  (But) Be Teachers:  (Teachers of what?)  Teachers Of Good Things.
          1.  ("Be Teachers" means what?  That they may "discipline and correct" (or "make of sound mind")  This is the meaning of the Greek word translated as "teach"4994  in verse 4.)
          2.  (Teach whom?)  "Young Women"
          3.  (Teach what?)  Teach the Seven Quintessential Qualities of a Titus 2 Woman, which are:

• To Be Sober: "Disciplined and Correct; of a Sound Mind ("sober"4994 is the same word used in verse 4 which is translated "teach" 4994 at the beginning of the verse, and means to "discipline and correct or make of a sound mind"--hence, the aged women are to discipline and correct the younger women to help them to become disciplined and corrected, and to become women who have a sound mind."
• To Love: (Whom? Not everyone, But:) Their Husbands and Their Children
• To Be Discreet
• To Be Chaste
• To Be Keepers at Home (yes, we have to be taught to be keepers at home, and what that is, and how to be one)
• To Be Good (We will explore later what that means!)
• To Be Obedient (Obedient?! Well, that's what it says, so if you don't like it, I guess you'll have to take it up with the Lord. Obedient to whom? Not all people, or even all men, but:) To Their Own Husbands

Here, then, I have set forth a brief overview of "What it Means to Be a Titus 2 Woman."  I will attempt to include in my blog teaching which lines up with Titus 2 and what it means, and as God helps me, to be in behavior as becometh holiness, though I know I fall so very far short.  We are all, as women, in a process of sanctification and becoming Titus 2 women, as we seek to love and serve the Lord and obey His Word. 

In conclusion, there is but one purpose for which we are to obey these commands:

That God's Word...His Word also means Truth, and "the Word" is also another name for Jesus Christ...that God's Word, His Truth, Jesus Christ and His Way...Be Not Blasphemed.

Please join with me in studying "Becoming a Titus 2 Woman in 2010."



To participate, visit Lisa at Extravagant Grace.